Stand structure



Jan. 14, 1930. E. w. NORTHROP ET AL 1,743,863

STAND STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 21, 1926 I 5 Sheets-heet 1 INVENTO far/ if /V0r7"6ro R6 vfmes [t ns/d4" M 54 row/BY.

Jan. 14, 1930. E. w. NORTHROP ET AL S TAND S TRUCTURE Filed Aug. 21, 1926 3 Sheets-Shee 2 Q/Q/ J AZ%ORINEY.

Jan. 14, 1930. E. w. NORTHROP ET AL 1,743,863

. STAND STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 21, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 L @eau/vo I INVENTORS fa-r/ M A/or/Arap am es Amara/Ida AZ; Mm

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 UNETED STATES PATENT oFF cs EARL w. NORTHROP ND JAMES iRoNsrnE, or DETROIT, micnic-A gAssicNoas, IBY MESNE Assre MENTs, To cLAY oN & LAMBERT MANUFACTURING 00., or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or DEL WARE J STAND sTRiicTURE;

Application filed August 21, 1928. Serial No. 130,574.

Our invention relates to stand structure and has to do with the provision of a novel stand structure of the collapsible type and has many advantages both as to stability and production cost.

One of the objects of our invention is the provisionof a main unit and auxiliary unit which are both specially constructed with relation to each other in order that the auxiliary unit'b'e eifectively'reinforced by the main unit. whenever such main unit is utilized. In this respect the stand is applicable to present supporting surfaces of two or more heights and to increase the rigidity of the general structure as the height of the's'upporting surface is increased.

Another object of our invention consists in the provision of a stand structure having two sets of supporting legs andthe arrangement of such legs whereby the one set forms directly the rein-forcing means for the other set without the interposition of any connecting bolts or lugs.

A further feature of our invention has to do with a novel collapsible shelf section which forms a collapsible part of the stand and, which due to this peculiar structure, serves to lock the stand in extended position and also serves to support itself.

A still further feature of our invention relates to the collapsible leg section, the manner of collapsing same andthe novel results derived from the various positions of thecollaosible parts bothwhen collapsed and when extended.

In the drawings: v p 7 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible stand embodying the features of our invention and particularly illustrating the use of the auxiliary legs as reinforcing members for the mm legs.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view taken on line of Fig. 1 and illustrating the novel locking nut which serves as the sole pivot for ti. auxiliary legs which also serves to lock t legs in collapsed and extended position.

)ortin of the stand in its lower oosition b l s.

' e is a perspective view showing supthe supporting shelf whereby the supporting shelf in a measure forms a top for the stand.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail'sectional view taken online k-l of Fig. 3 and illustrating the position of the various parts when in collapsed position whereby a large amount of friction is obtained to maintain such collapsed parts in position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of our auxiliary stand unit and showin'g'in particular the construction of the auxiliary leg and the manner of hinging it to the top frame structure of the stand.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the stand in collapsed position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the manner of locking the main legs and the stand in general in "extended position. I

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical View illustrat ing the manner of positioning the stand preparatory to collapsing or extending the same.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view similar to Fig.8 showing the lockinglugs compressed for the collapsing or extending of the auxiliary supportin means.

Fig. 10 is a partly broken away, and illustrating the man ner of folding the main legs longitudinally of the stand and the auxiliary legs transversely thereof. 7

In the drawings our collapsible stand coustruction is shown as comprising a light but sufficiently strong inner main unit together with an. outer auxiliary unit.- These inner and outer units are so built that they will serve as complements to each other for the purpose of rigidly, compactly reinforcing and supporting the stand} structure.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will he understood that the inner main unit structure is made up of the leg member sections 1- and 2-,the two legs at each end forming the leg member sections land 2 which are provided with suitable cross braces 3. These leg members land 2 are preferably formed of relatively light angles. The leg sections are pivotally connected at-their upper end,

fragmentary perspective view,

as at 4, to the top frame member 5 which is preferably rectangular in shape and angular in cross section. Pivots 4 for connecting the legs of the main unit to'the stand frame are preferably positioned at a distance from the ends of the frame 5, as best illustrated in Figs. 5 and 10. i

The main leg sections 1 and 2, connected by the braces 3 may be of any desired length corresponding to the length of the stand whereby the legs may be folded within the length of the stand. Such leg sections, being angular in cross section, are so positioned that when folded inwardly and longitudinally about the pivots 4 they will fold together with the sides of the angles parallel, as shown in Fig. 4.

This inner main unit, consisting of the leg sections 1 and 2, is reinforced by an outer auxiliary unit which comprises the oppositely disposed leg sections 6 and 7, pivotally connected to the frame 5, said leg sections being connected by a flexible brace 8. The ends of the frame 5 are provided with squared apertures 9 and 10 at each end thereof, and such apertures are designed to receive novel studs 11 which are so formed as to be square in cross section for a part of their length and round in section for a part of their length. The axes of the studs 11 are positioned at right angles to the axes of the pivots 4, and such studs 11 form the sole pivots for pivoting the leg sections 6 and 7 to the frame 5. Y

The auxiliary leg sections which comprise the two legs 6 and 7 and the connecting bars 8 are adapted to be assembled with relation to frame 5 by flexing the bars 8 whereby the studs 11 at the ends thereof may be quickly dropped into place into the square apertures 9 and 10 at each end of the frame 5. It will be obvious that the flexible leg sections comprising the short legs and the flexible connecting means may be disassembled in the same manner, but the main novel result in this construction resides in the ease of assembly, because when once assembled the stand need not, under ordinary conditions, be disassembled. The squared portions of the studs 11 are adapted to cooperate with the squared apertures 9 and 10 when the legsections 6 and 7 are in either extended.

or collapsed position; that is, either at right angles or parallel with the frame member 5 and such studs 11 are designed to be resiliently held in either one of said locking positions by means of the spring clips 12 which are preferably riveted to the auxiliary leg members, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10.

It will therefore be obvious that in order to collapse or extend the auxiliary leg memthe stand about the rounded portions of the studs 11. The positioning of the spring pressed studs 11 at the corners and eachend of the frame 5 has a definite purpose in that such positioning makes it possible to very easily collapse or extend the auxiliary legs 6 and 7 and'incidentally the entire stand. In other words, as best illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the studs 11 may be actuated and the stand collapsed or extended by merely placing one end' of the frame 5 against the floor or other suitable surface and then pressing against the studs at the opposite end, as shown in Fig. 9, whereby the pressing inwardly of the two upwardly projecting studs will simultaneously compress the two downwardly projecting studs which contact with the floor. This thus presses upon the studs inwardly and makes it possible to. quickly and easily move the leg members 6 and 7 towards the desired position.

The short legs of the auxiliary leg members 6 and 7 r are angular inshape similar to the main legs and are so pivoted about the studs 11 as to fit squarely within the corners formed by the frame 5, when such leg members are in extended position. Thus the pivoting of the short legs about the pivots 11 and the positioning of the same serves to reinforce the legs against pressure in one direction while the connecting bars 8 serve to reinforce the legs against pressure in the other direction. As the longer legs are pivoted to move longitudinally of the stand and the shorter legs are positioned on the outside thereof and pivoted to move transversely of the stand, it will be obvious that the main stress on the main legs will be in a direction longitudinally of the stand, and the shorter legs are positioned on the outside thereof and pivoted to move transversely of the stand, it will be obvious that the main stress on the main legs will be in a direction longitudinally of the stand, and this main stress will be counteracted and such main legs rigidly reinforced by the auxiliary legs which are reinforced by'the bars 8 and which are positioned when extended at an angle to the main legs. This pivoting of the main legs about the pivots 4, which are so positioned as to cause the main legs to extend downwardly and outwardly, when extended, is one of the main features of our invention, as it will be obvious that when the units and the leg sections thereof areextended that the more pressure brought to bear upon the top of the stand that the greater will be the reinforcing action of the auxiliary legs. This novel reinforcing is the result of the pivoting of the leg members of the two units, the reinforcing of the auxiliary leg members and the complemental positioning of the leg sections of the two units.

The stand will be sufliciently rigid when utilizing either the main unit or the auxiliary unit, but we have added an additional feature 1,74aseswhich not only reinforces the stand but which adds to its usefulness as a stand in that wev have provided a collapsible shelf member which is preferably formed in two parts which may be designated 13 and 1 1. These two sections which form the shelf are preferably of pressed corrugated sheet metal, the corrugations and turned downedges of each section interfitting in complemental relation. The shorter shelf member 13 is pivoted to the main leg section 1 preferably just insidethe brace 3, and the longer'shelf section 141 is pivoted to the shorter section 13 at a point 15. The opposite end of the entire shelf unit, and particularly the end of the section 14 is turned down, as at 16, see Fig. 7 and the corners formed by the meeting of the turned down edge 16, and the longitudinal turned down edges of the shelf are cut away, as at 17 whereby the shelf section 14 when ext-ended fits in locking position with reference to the brace member 3, connecting the main legs of the leg section 2. In other words, the cut away portion 17 makes it possible to position the turned down edge 16 on the outside of the brace 3 and the end of the turned down por-. tions at the side of the shelf on the inside of the brace 3thereby locking the leg section 2 against movement in either direction and incidentally locking the entire table as when the two sections 13 and 14 of the shelf areeX- tended, as shown in Fig. 1, the overlapped portions caused by the pivoting of the section 1%, asat 15, produces a cantilever action which rigidly holds the main leg sections in extended position, and preferably in contact witn the auxiliary legs 6, and which canti lever action also reinforces the center of the shelf making it unnecessary otherwise-to support the shelf in the center.

Thus by the mere addition of a shelf memher which is collapsible and has great utility, wehave provided means of positively locking the main leg sections in extended position and for giving the stand the greatest possible rigidity with a minimum amount of mater al.

In collapsing the stand from the position shown in Fig. 1 it is only necessary to raise the end of the shelf section 1 1 to disengage the same from the brace 3 and then raise the shelf unit in the center or about pivot 15-. The two shelf sections then fold flatly together in parallel relation and also fold initially against andwithin the angles formed by-the leg section 1, this is clearly shown. n Fig. 1- The leg section 1, together with the folded shelf sections 13. and 11, may then be folded, inwardly and longitudinally upward lv againstandwithin the angles formed by the frame member 5. Having folded the leg sections 1 and the shelf sections 13 and 1e within the frame member, as shown in Fig. 4, the leg section 2 is then folded inwardly and, upwardly into; a. space between the one angle of the leg section 1 and the downwardly extending leg of the angle formed by the:

frame 5. -When. completely collapsed these sections show a cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 4, whereby five layers of sheet metal are packed closely together. These various angles, asshown in F lg. 41, are preferably so positioned, that when so collapsed theycontact with each other with a certain amount of friction whereby the shelf units and the main leg sections are frictionally vmaintained in such collapsed position. In. fact, this friction is so great that when the table is partially c0llapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby only the auxiliary unit isutilized, the collapsed shelf sections serve as a table top: and cannot be normally pressed downwardlyiexcept by separately disengaging the maiiileg sections beneath the shelf. sections. This serves an important purpose in that when the frame member 5 is hollow, or annular, as? shown, that an ordinary table may be provided when the short table is'used. The main leg sections and shelf having been once collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, it is only necessary to actuate the studs 11 whereby the auxiliary leg sec tions 6 and 7 may be folded inwardly and retained in locking position by the contacting,

when all theleg members, including the leg sections 1 and 2, 6 and 7 and the shelf sections 13 and 14 are folded in position as shown in Fig. 6, all of such folded parts are positioned within the plane of the frame 5- In other words, an of the parts of'this collapsible twostage stand fold fiat and collapse into a unit which is ofno greater width than the width of the angle member forming the frame 5.

' In extending the stand from col'l'aps'ed' position it is only necessary to actuate the studs 11-, as illustrated in Fig. 9 and thenprog-ressively unfold the auxiliary leg sections to. locked position, and then the shelf sections 13" and 14;

What; we claim is 1. A collapsible stand structure comprising acollapsible inner unit and an outer unit each arranged to independentlysupport a standat differentheights, and means connectingthe two units whereby the one unit reinforces the other wheniiijextended position.

2'. A collapsible stand structure comprising a collapsible inner unit and-anouter unit then the main leg n sections,

each arranged to independently support a stand at different heights, and means connecting the two units whereby the outer unit reinforces the inner unit whenin extended position.

3. A collapsible stand structure adapted to be positioned to aplurality of heights, comprising an outer unit independently adapted to position and support the stand at one height, and an inner unit independently adapted to support and position the stand at another height, and means connecting the two units whereby said inner unit and outer unit are complementally positioned and arranged when extended to reinforce each other. 4. A collapsible stand structure comprising leg sections and single means serving as pivots and positive locking means for connecting the leg sections to the stand structure in either rotative or locked relation.

5. A collapsible stand structure comprising a frame. leg sections pivoted to and foldable with relation to said frame and locking means including a spring-pressed stud positioned at each end of the frame and adapted to be simultaneously actuated'to release by positioning one end of the frame against the floor for permitting collapsing or extending of said leg sections, said leg sections being foldable with relation to the frame only upon simultaneous actuating of the locking means.

6. A collapsible stand structure comprising a leg section foldable transversely of the stand, and a second leg section foldable longitudinally of the stand, and means for positioning said leg sections complementally inoverlapped relation when in extended position whereby they are mutually reinforcing.

7. A collapsible stand structure comprising a main unit and an auxiliary unit, said main unit having leg sections foldable longitudinally of the standand said auxiliary unit having leg sections foldable transversely thereof said sections interfitting when in extended position to bereinforced by each other.

8; A collapsible stand structure comprising a supporting frame, a supporting leg therefor freely pivoted to the frame and another leg member also pivoted to the frame at a point positioned from said first named pivot whereby said first named leg member contacts with said second named leg member and at an angle thereto whereby one of said leg members reinforces the other.

9. A collapsible stand structure comprising inner and outer leg sections, a frame, one of saidleg sections being freely and pivotally mounted on'said frame and the other leg sec-- tion being also pivotally mounted to the frame, identical means for both pivoting and automatically locking said last named leg section in collapsed position.

10. A collapsible stand structure comprisinginner and outer leg sections, a frame, one

- of said leg sections being freely and pivotally mounted on said frame, the other leg section being also pivotally mounted to the frame, and identical means for pivoting and automatically locking said last named leg section in collapsed or extended position.

11. A collapsible stand structure comprising a frame member and foldable leg sections for supporting the frame member, said leg sections each comprising two legs connected by a flexible brace whereby the brace may be flexed and the leg section assembled into position as a unit. 7

12. A collapsiblestand structure comprising a frame member and apertures in said frame-member for receiving bearing studs, said bearing studs forming the sole connecting means betwen leg sections and said frame member, and fiexiblemeans for connecting two legs of the leg section whereby said means maybe flexed to assemble said leg section as a unlt.

.13. A collapsible stand structure comprising inner and outer supporting units, said inner unit formed by leg sections comprising two legs joined by a reinforcing member positioned transversely of the stand and said outer unit made up of leg sections formed of two legs joined by reinforcing members positioned longitudinally of the stand, said in-.

ner and outer units being foldable in overlapped relation.

14. A'collapsible stand structure comprising a plurality of independent collapsible units adapted to be extended to support the stand at different heights, one of said units being foldable within the other when notbeing utilized as a support, the parts of said folded unit contacting with each other with sufficient friction to maintain the folded unit in collapsed position.

15. A collapsible stand structure comprising an inner and outer unit, the legs of one unit-being positioned at an angle to the legs of the other unit whereby the legs of one'unit reinforces those of the other, the legs of one unit being collapsible to permit the legs of the other unit to support the stand at a different height.

16. A collapsible stand structure comprising two units, one made up of relatively short legs, and the other of relatively long legs and a collapsibleshelf structure for reinforcing the long legs, said shelf consisting of a plurality of pivotally connected overlapping parts.

17. A collapsible stand structure comprising two units, one unit made up of relatively short legs, and the other of relatively long.

legs, said short legs being positioned to reinforce the long legs and a collapsible shelf member for reinforcing the long legs, said shelf member consisting of a plurality of pivotally joined parts.

18. A collapsible stand structure comprising a main unit and auxiliaryunit formed of relatively light weight angles, the legs of said auxiliary unit being positioned to reinforce the legs of the main unit, and a relatively thin collapsible corrugated shelf member for reinforcing the main unit.

19. A collapsible stand structure comprising a main unit and auxiliary unit formed of relatively light weight angles, the legs of said auxiliary unit being positioned to reinforce the legs of the main unit, and a relatively thin collapsible corrugated shelf member for reinforcing the main unit, the parts of said shelf structure being oined to present a cantilever action when extended to reinforcing position.

20. A collapsible stand structure comprising collapsible leg members and a collapsible shelf member adapted to be connected to and to reinforce the legs when extended, the sections of said shelf member being connected to provide a cantilever action whereby said shelf is self supporting.

21. A collapsible stand structure comprising a top frame member and a plurality of independent units for supporting the stand at different heights, one of said units being foldable within the other and both of said units being foldable within said frame member, the legs ofone of said units being automatically locked when collapsed to lock the entire structure in collapsed position.

22. A collapsible stand structure comprising inner and outer units, said inner unit comprising relatively long legs and said outer unit comprising relatively short legs, a frame for carrying said inner and outer units, the legs of said outer unit being adapted to be reinforced by the legs of said inner unit and a collapsible shelf member adapted to reinforce said inner unit, all of said elements being collapsible and foldable within the plane of said frame.

23. A collapsible stand structure comprising a frame, a leg foldable, with relation to the frame, and a single member connecting the frame and the leg, the said member arranged in one position to lock the frame and the leg and in another position to pivotally connect the frame and the leg.

24. A collapsible stand structure comprising a frame, a plurality of independently collapsible leg units adapted to be extended to support the frame at different heights, one of said units being foldable within the other when not being utilized as a support, the said folded unit engaging the frame with sufficient friction to maintain the folded unit in collapsed position. v

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

JAMES IRONSIDE. EARL NORTI-IROP. 

